Description
A comforting and flavorful pasta dish featuring roasted vine tomatoes and garlic blended with creamy ricotta cheese, fresh basil, and a hint of chili flakes. This easy-to-make recipe delivers a rich, velvety sauce that’s perfectly tossed with al dente pasta, garnished with parmesan and basil for a delightful Italian-inspired meal.
Ingredients
Vegetables and Herbs
- 450 g (1 pound) ripe medium vine tomatoes, halved
- 1 small whole garlic head (or 4 large garlic cloves, unpeeled)
- Handful fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
Pantry Items
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
Pasta and Dairy
- 225 g (8 oz) pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or other type)
- 120 g (1/2 cup) ricotta cheese
- Grated parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 200°C (400°F) to get ready for roasting the vegetables, which develops deep flavors.
- Prepare tomatoes and garlic: Arrange the halved tomatoes cut side up in a baking dish. Trim the top off the garlic head to expose cloves and place it alongside the tomatoes.
- Season and oil: Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes and garlic, then season well with salt and pepper to enhance the natural sweetness.
- Roast vegetables: Place the baking dish in the oven and roast for about 20 minutes. Remove, cover loosely with foil, and return for another 10 minutes until tomatoes are blistered and caramelized, and garlic is soft.
- Cook pasta: While roasting, boil the pasta in heavily salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 240 ml (1 cup) of cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Make sauce: Squeeze the softened garlic cloves out of their skins into a blender. Add the roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, chili flakes if using, ricotta cheese, and about 60 ml (1/4 cup) of the reserved pasta water. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Combine pasta and sauce: In a large skillet or pan, mix the blended tomato-ricotta sauce with the cooked pasta. Toss to coat evenly and heat over medium heat until warmed through, adding more pasta cooking water if the sauce needs thinning.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste and add additional salt or pepper as desired to perfect the flavor.
- Serve: Plate the pasta, then garnish with fresh basil leaves and grated parmesan cheese for a delicious finishing touch. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add a splash of balsamic vinegar before roasting the tomatoes.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the chili flakes to taste.
- The reserved pasta water helps bind the sauce; add gradually to avoid making the sauce too watery.
- Use fresh, ripe tomatoes for the best natural sweetness and texture.
- This recipe can be made with gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
